Tuesday, September 20, 2011

First on the Moon- The Omega Speedmaster

The classic Omega Speedmaster is
a great watch that comes with a history that also makes it an awe-inspiring
watch. Not only does the Omega Speedmaster have a long history of going into
space with NASA astronauts, it has the distinction of being the watch that has
gone to the moon and back. That is why the nickname that has been given to the
Omega Speedmaster as the “Moon Watch” is well deserved.

Beginning in 1963, the Omega
Speedmaster became the standard issue watch that went on space exploration
missions. The Moon Watch had a role to play in all of the historic space
exploration programs including Mercury, the Gemini missions, the Apollo program
and the entire Space Shuttle program as well.

The Apollo 13 mission was so
dramatic that it was turned into a big motion picture starring Tom Hanks and
Kevin Bacon. The Omega Speedmaster had a big part in those astronauts getting
home safely by helping them execute a critical burn that put them on the right
track to avoiding disaster. The Classic Omega Speedmaster Professional was
there to go on the very first space walk with Edward White. It can be said
without fear of contradiction that if there was a historic milestone in the
history of space exploration in this country, the Omega Speedmaster was there.

Some of the missions, such as
that spacewalk, put the Omega Speedmaster into some of the most extreme
conditions of space exploration such as zero gravity and extreme cold. The fact
that this amazing watch came through for our brave astronauts with flying
colors speaks volumes about the craftsmanship and durability of this timepiece.

There was plenty of competition
from other watches who would have liked to go on those well-publicized space
missions, but each time, it was the Omega Speedmaster that won out. The one
mission that added to the phenomenal mystique of the Omega Speedmaster was when
it went to the moon with the Apollo 11 spacecraft. Unfortunately, that history-making Omega Speedmaster was
left inside the space capsule when Neil Armstrong put his foot on the moon for
the first time and said that famous “One step for man” quote. However, later on
Buzz Aldrin wore his Omega Speedmaster when he took his moon walk.

The Omega Speedmaster performed
extraordinarily well on the moon and under diverse circumstances throughout the
life of the NASA space program. While there have been small incidents, such as
when the face covering popped off during a moon walk, the Omega Speedmaster
continued to be the watch of choice for NASA whenever they put astronauts in
space. Its reliability is phenomenal and the hard-working astronauts who
learned to depend on it would have no other watch.

The Moon Watch has enjoyed plenty
of success here on Planet Earth as well. As is true of other kinds of
technology that proved themselves in space, the Omega Speedmaster has become an
eagerly sought-after watch for people who want a timepiece who can go toe to
toe with any adventure or challenge life has in store. For anyone looking for a
high-quality watch that also comes with some incredible stories of high
adventure in space and on the moon, the Omega Speedmaster is the way to go.